Lowering Resource Utilization Among Hospitalized Patients with Comorbid Substance Use Disorders

Inpatients with substance use disorders present treatment challenges, because they are at high risk for hospital readmission and emergency department (ED) visits. Researchers at an urban academic medical center in Baltimore randomized 400 adult medical or surgical inpatients with comorbid substance use disorders to either a navigation services model (comprising proactive case management, patient advocacy, and motivational support) or usual care.

All patients were evaluated initially and subsequently recruited into the study by a multidisciplinary addiction consultation service. The navigational model was administered by master's-level social workers and consisted of services that started at the bedside and continued for 3 months postdischarg…